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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Vatican City, 15 April 2015 (VIS) –
Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the family by dedicating
this morning's general audience to the difference and complementarity
between man and woman, recalling first of all that the Book of
Genesis insists that both are the image and semblance of God. “Not
only man as such, not only woman as such, but rather man and woman,
as a couple, are the image of God. The difference between them is not
a question of contrast or subordination, but instead of communion and
generation, always in the image and semblance of God”.

“Experience teaches us that for the
human being to know him- or herself well and to grow harmoniously,
there is a need for reciprocity between man and woman”, said the
Pope to the thirty thousand faithful present in St. Peter's Square.
“When this does not happen, we see the consequences. We are made to
listen to each other and to help each other. We can say that, without
mutual enrichment in this relationship – in terms of thought and
action, in personal relationships and in work, and also in faith –
the two cannot even fully understand what it means to be a man and a
woman”.

“Modern and contemporary culture has
opened up new spaces, new freedoms and new depths for the enrichment
and understanding of this difference. But it has also introduced many
doubts and much scepticism. I wonder, for example, if so-called
gender theory is not an expression of frustration and resignation,
that aims to cancel out sexual difference as it is no longer able to
face it. Yes, we run the risk of taking step backwards. Indeed, the
removal of difference is the problem, not the solution. To solve
their problems in relating to each other, men and women must instead
speak more, listen more, know each other better, value each other
more. They must treat each other with respect and cooperate in
friendship. With these human bases, supported by God's grace, it is
possible to plan a lifelong matrimonial and family union. The
marriage and family bond is a serious matter for all, not only for
believers. I would like to encourage intellectuals not to ignore this
theme, as if it were secondary to our efforts to promote a freer and
more just society”.

“God has entrusted the earth to the
alliance between man and woman; its failure makes our emotional life
arid and obscures the heaven of hope. The signs are already worrying,
and we can see them. I would like to indicate due points, among many,
that I believe must concern us with greater urgency”.

“Undoubtedly we must do far more in
favour of women, if we want to strengthen to the reciprocity between
men and women. Indeed, it is necessary for a woman not only to be
listened to, but also for her voice to carry real weight, recognised
authority, in society and in the Church. The way in which Jesus
Himself regarded women, in a context that was far less favourable
than our own, casts a powerful light illuminating a road that takes
us far, on which we have travelled only a short distance. It is a
road we must travel with more creativity and boldness”.

He added, “a second point relates to
the theme of man and woman created in God's image. I wonder if the
crisis of collective trust in God, that is so harmful to us, that
causes us to ail with resignation to incredulity and cynicism, is not
also connected to the crisis in the alliance between man and woman.
In effect, the biblical account, with the great symbolic fresco of
earthly paradise and original sin, tells us precisely that communion
with God is reflected in the communion of the human couple, and the
loss of trust in the heavenly Father generates division and conflict
between man and woman”.

“This leads to the great
responsibility of the Church, of all believers, and above all of
Christian families, to rediscover the beauty of the Creator's plan
that inscribes the image of God also in the alliance between man and
woman. The earth is filled with harmony and trust when the alliance
between man and woman is lived well. And if men and women seek this
together between them and with God, without doubt they will find it.
Jesus explicitly encourages us to bear witness to this beauty, which
is the image of God”, concluded the Pontiff.

Vatican City, 15 April 2015 (VIS) –
The Holy Father has sent a telegram of condolences to Fr. Adolfo
Nicolas Pachon, superior general of the Society of Jesus, for the
death of Cardinal Roberto Tucci, S.J., yesterday afternoon in Rome at
the age of 93.

In the text, the Pope expresses his
heartfelt condolences and recalls with gratitude the prelate's
valuable service over several decades as director of “Civilta
Cattolica”, expert at Vatican Council II, director general of
Vatican Radio and in particular as coordinator of papal trips outside
Italy. “He leaves us with the memory of an industrious and dynamic
life, spent in the coherent and generous fulfilment of his vocation
as a religious man mindful of the needs of others, and a pastor
faithful to the Gospel and to the Church, following the example of
St. Ignatius. I raise fervent prayers that the Lord might receive him
in joy and eternal peace, and I offer you and to your Jesuit brethren
the consolation of my apostolic blessing, the sign of my intense
participation in our sorrow”.

Vatican City, 15 April 2015 (VIS) –
The ninth meeting of the Council of Cardinals (C9), which began on 13
April, was brought to a close this afternoon, according to a briefing
by the director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi,
S.J.

The Council of Cardinals dedicated the
majority its work regarding reform of the Roman Curia to two aspects:
reflections on the methodologies to be followed for work during 2015
and 2016 in order to be able to effectively accomplish the task of
preparing the new Constitution, and a rereading of the interventions
by the Cardinals in relation to reform of the Curia made during the
recent Consistory (there were over sixty interventions on this theme
with useful indications and cues, both for the prologue of the
constitution and for specific aspects of reform).

The orientation towards the
constitution of two dicasteries – one competent in fields of
charity, justice and peace, the other regarding the laity, families
and life – would appear to be confirmed.

The Council also focused on the issue
of the reorganisation of Vatican media, following the submission of
the final report of the Commission presided over by Lord Chris
Patten.

It is expected that the Pope will
constitute a Commission to consider how the recommendations of the
report can be put into practice. This body will also include members
of the Patten Commission, to ensure continuity.

Finally, Cardinal O'Malley, president
of the new Commission for the Protection of Minors, under the
auspices of the same Commission, has proposed that the Pope and the
Council consider the theme of “Accountability” with regard to the
protection of minors, in order to establish appropriate procedures
and methods for evaluating and judging cases of “abuse of office”
in this area, especially on the part of persons holding
responsibility within the Church.

Further meetings of the Council of
Cardinals are scheduled to take place from 8 to 10 June, 14 to 16
September and 10 to 12 December 2015.

- Bishop Wilson Luis Angotti Filho,
auxiliary of the archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as bishop of
Taubate (area 4,534, population 692,000, Catholics 592,000, priests
123, permanent deacons 55, religious 433), Brazil. He succeeds Bishop
Carmo Joao Rhoden, S.C.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care
of the same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the
Holy Father.

- Msgr. Oriolo dos Santos as auxiliary
of the archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (area 7,222, population
4,785,000, Catholics 3,350,000, priests 771, permanent deacons 16,
religious 2,465), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Itajuba,
Brazil in 1964 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He holds degrees in
philosophy from the University of Campinas and in marking and
strategic personnel management from the “Gama Filho” University
in Rio de Janeiro. He has served in a number of pastoral roles in the
archdiocese of Pouso Alegre, including parish vicar, parish priest,
canon of the metropolitan chapter, episcopal vicar for the
administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, promotor of justice
of the ecclesiastical tribunal, and professor of philosophy at the
archdiocesan seminary. He is currently parish priest of the Cathedral
of Pouso Alegre.